TACLOBAN CITY – One-hundred eighteen members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), including nine barangay officials, surrendered to the 19th Infantry Battalion in Matuguinao, Samar last Feb. 15.
Fifty-six members of the Batakang Organisasyong Pangpartido (BOP), 50 members of the Yunit Milisya (YM), and 12 members of the Organisadong Masa have sworn allegiance to the government after abandoning communist ideologies.
Nine of them were barangay chairmen and council members in the town.
Matuguinao Mayor Aran Boller gave an ultimatum on Feb. 15 to 353 identified CPP-NPA-NDF members and supporters to lay down their arms to achieve lasting peace in the NPA-infested municipality. He warned that those who failed to surrender would be charged under the Anti-Terror Law.
Lt. Col. Jasper Pecson, commander of the 19th Infantry Battalion, cited the success of their anti-insurgency campaign.
The official bared that 195 identified personalities have undergone tactical interrogation but only 118 attended the mass surrender ceremony last Friday.
"Despite not being complete, we say that it is successful because those who have surrendered include barangay officials who have influence and hold key positions in their areas," he said.
Aside from being charged, those who failed to surrender will be declared persona non grata in their municipality.
To date, Matuguinao has over 300 surrenderers and has started developing its local tourism from being a stronghold of NPA for decades.